Two Cherries Productions to Present CHASING HEROES at Manhattan Rep, Begin. 8/27

Two Cherries Productions presents Chasing Heroes a new play by Shane Cherry for a limited engagement at Manhattan Rep (303 West 42nd Street) from August 27th through 29th. Chris Rivera directs. The cast features William Thomason, Brian Esposito, Mark Jonathan, Chris Rivera, Monique Sanchez, Austin Boykin, Corey Crysler, Ali Wetzeland Elsbeth Denman.

Derrick, an idealistic college freshman who's fixated on superheroes and romance movies meets Tristan, a confident, charismatic, knowingly gay sophomore at a Halloween party with mutual friends and rapidly succumbs to his sexual advances. They begin a push-pull relationship that always leaves Derrick disappointed for wanting something more serious from Tristan whose drive for material success takes precedence over all else in his life. Tormenting each other both intentionally and unintentionally, they can't seem to pull themselves apart. Their story is narrated from each of their perspectives with avatars who perform the action while a chorus of three imaginary friends offer that they both acknowledge but ultimately disregard in the face of their powerful mutual attraction.

Shane Cherry's short plays include Fallen, Michelle (Sydney Short and Sweet Festival Honorable Mention, KCACTF Region II Finalist) and Vices (John Chatterton Short Play LabBest Play). Chasing Heroes marks his full length playwriting debut.

Chris Rivera is a director, actor and playwright who hails from Texas. There he taught for the Tony Award winning Alley Theatre and presided over their workshop for Sequin: The Unsung Hero of Texas, also acting in a touring production of the play. In Houston he played leads in Hedwig and The Angry Inch for Unhinged Productions (cited by critic Buzz Bellmont as Best Actor in a Musical) and Romeo and Juliet for Phoenix Inc. He's performed Off Broadway in Seriously Funny at the June Havoc Theatre and in the world premiere ofThe Miss Longview Texas Drag Pageant. His plays, The Body, Quick Visits and Cash Comfort Sex were all produced this year. He currently teaches for the New York Film Academy and is slated to direct Romeo and Juliet for What Dreams May Company at the Kraine Theater in the Fall. No stranger to directing himself in new works, Chris will play Tristan's avatar in Chasing Heroes.

Chasing Heroes begins Wednesday August 27th at Manhattan Rep (303 West 42ndStreet, 6th Floor at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue) Performances are Wed. August 27th, Thurs. August 28th and Fri. August 29th at 6:30PM. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door. Reservations can be made by e-mailingMRTreserve@gmail.com. For more information go to manhattanrep.com.